Mercer Board member resigns

By TOM LAVENTURE

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MERCER, Wis. — A member of the Mercer School Board has resigned for personal reasons, according to a letter presented to the board at Monday’s school board meeting.

The school board 4-0 approved the resignation announcement of board member Jeff Nehring. Nehring, who was not present, is a recently retired dentist, who was reelected to a three year term on the school board in the April 7, 2020, election following an earlier appointment to the board.

In a letter from Nehring to School Board President Robert Davis he stated it was with “deep regret” that he finds it necessary to resign from the board due to issues that require time with his family. He enclosed a $1,000 check that he asked to be used for school technology.

“It has been a pleasure working with you (Davis) and the board and I wish you all much luck in the future,” Nehring said in the letter.

Davis said he was grateful to Nehring, a former board member for a number of years who was instrumental for major additions, who chose to return during “very difficult times” for the board. There were member resignations and Nehring chose to “step up and be of service to our community,” he said.

“I think he did a very good job of that,” Davis said. “I want to personally thank him and thank him from a board perspective for the time and input that he provided this board.”

Board member James Hannemann said the resignation was disappointing and that the loss of Nehring’s expertise and a perspective from a time before the turmoil on the board will be missed.

Board member Sue Loth said she appreciated Nehring’s push for technology and for helping move the school into 21st century learning. His efforts to ensure the board is transparent and that meetings are conducted correctly are appreciated, she said.

The next step will be to fill the vacancy from the resignation, Davis said. State statutes require the appointment process to complete a year of the term until the next general election in April 2022.

At that time, the open seat will be filled in the election for the remaining year of the original three-year term from 2020, he said. The spring 2022 election will have three vacancies to include the one-year remaining on Nehring’s term and two other expiring three year terms.

The two candidates with the highest number of votes will fill the two three year vacancies in the spring 2022 election, he said. The individual who has the third most votes will fill the one-year term.

Nehring’s seat will return to its full three year vacancy for the spring 2023 election, he said.

Individuals seeking the appointment to fill Nehring’s vacancy should contact the school administrative office and request a form of eligibility.

In the school board treasurer’s report, James Hannemann said the school district is where it should be regarding operating budget receipts for this point in the school year. Davis asked for a budget update at the March meeting.

In the school district administrator’s report, Sheri Kopka congratulated Maddy Piburn, the new sixth-grade math teacher who recently completed her third project of the year. The project brought more resources to the school with individual donors and funds from the Herb Kohl Education Foundation.

Kopka has posted the second quarter honor roll. She said it is a year where students have struggled with the changes in learning and it is great to celebrate these achievements that students are doing.

A recent in-service on curriculum has identified a priority need to help students improve public speaking skills. That will be addressed starting with parent-teacher-student conferences in March.

In other business, the school board members reviewed 34 school district policies that have recommended updates for approval but tabled the first reading of the policies until the March meeting. 

The next regular school board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, March 22.